Method and fashioning means for knitting machines



Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL 2,655,018

METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES File'd June 18, 1948 7SheetsSheet l INVENTOR Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL 2,655,018

METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Fi-led June 18, 1948 7Sheets-Sheet 2 &

Oct. 13, 1953 H. E; IV-IAEHNEL 2,655,018

METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1948 7Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ErciyHae/meb Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL METHODAND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June18, 1948 INVENTOR Hzrherififrich Haeimd Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL2,655,018

MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES METHOD AND FASHIONING '7 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed June 18, 1948 INVENTOR Herberi Erichfl'weimd o 3, 1953 H. E.HAEHNEL 2,555,018

METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1948 7SheetsSheet 6 Fla- 8- 9.5 92 97 1 9.9 96 15 22 5 II II 93F) I ig;

I ,I I l 6 I 32 8 21 0 MO 7% I Z i J k f 1 .53 1& 5 6 r ,7 Z r i 1 f 51'gg INVENTOR Herberiflrichfiaehnel Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL METHOD ANDFASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 18,1948 INVENTOR Harbezi rzdvflaelmel Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINESApplication June 18, 1948, Serial No. 33,748

(01. es s9 32 Claims.

The present invention relates to knitting machines having fashioningmechanism adapted to widen the fabric by point comb transfer of loopsand to a method of operating such machines.

One method of widening full-fashioned knitted fabric involves theoutward transfer of loops by point transfer combs, and the moving of theend stops of the yarn carrier or carriers out or in the wideningdirection at the same average rate as the point combs. In operatingaccording to this method, it has been the custom always to move the nutcarrying the end stops in revolutions in which the combs are moved andin which therefore, the friction box rod of the coulier means isstationary,

In moving the end stop nut in the widening direction, the carrier rod orrods, laying yarn in the widened area, are engaged to and moved with theend stop nut. Upon the outward move- 3 ment of the nut and carrier rods,the friction boxes, connected to the carrier rods and in frictionalengagement with the friction rod, must also be moved. Therefore, thenut, in overcoming not only the weight of the carrier rods and frictionboxes, but also the friction between the boxes and the friction rod,exerts considerable drag on its spindle resulting in wear between thenut and spindle, this wear causing a misalignment of the yarn carrierson the carrier rods and the sinkers and dividers of the machine. Whilethe wear to the nut and spindle may be overcome by adjustments to theparts, in many instances such wear is not known until the yarn carriersbecome sufficiently misaligned with the sinkers and dividers to causedamage to these parts.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to remove the causeof wear and its resultant troubles when operating to widen fullfashionedfabric by the joint action of end stops and point transfer combs.

A second object of the invention is to provide a means for widening byjoint action but whereby it will be unnecessary to move the end stops attimes when the coulier means is stationary.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for widening byjoint action but whereby the point transfer combs may be prevented frommoving at the same time as the end stops.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for carrying out arepetitive cycle of end stop movements and point transfer movements inwhich the end stops will make two needle widening steps during theknitting cycles and the toe portions and it is a still further object ofthe' invention to provide a full-fashioned knitting machine havingnarrowing mechanism which is adapted to cause either single needle ortwo needle narrowing and which operates to automatically change from twoneedle to single needle operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the form of the invention shown inthe accompanying drawings, the present invention resides in the novelelements, features of construction, arrangement of parts in cooperativerelationship and method of operation as hereinafter more particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a portion of the left end of aReading type full-fashioned knitting machine having the presentinvention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but on a larger scaleand with certain parts shown in different relative positions;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view as seen from the right of Fig. 2, partsbeing omitted and parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

1 Fig. 4 is an elevational view as seen from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same end of the machineas is shown in Fig. 1 and to approximately the same scale, showingcertain of the control mechanism according to the invention, certainparts being broken away and others shown in dotted outline for purposesof illustration;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view partially in section taken substantially alongthe line 6-45 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view partially in section taken substantially onthe line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. '7, lookingin the direction of the arrows 88;

Fig. 9 is a plan view taken substantially along the line 9-9 on Fig. 5,certain parts being omitted;

Fig. 10 is a detailed view taken substantially on the line ll0 of Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of certain of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2,showing certain of the control mechanism for the spindle racking pawls,parts being omitted and other shown in section for purposes ofillustration;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detailed view taken in the direction of thearrows |2|2 on Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. II with the parts shownin different relative positions;

Fig. 14 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along the line|4| 4 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 with the parts shown in differentpositions relative to Fig. 14 and taken on the line l|5 of Fig. 13.

In the drawings and description, only the means and method necessary toa complete understanding of the invention are specifically set forth;further information as to the construction and operation of otherrelated, usual and well known knitting machine elements, mechanisms,etc., may be found in one or more of the following publications:

1. Pamphlet entitled, Full-Fashioned Knitting Machines, published andcopyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania, in1920.

2. Four catalogs entitled, The Reading Full- Fashioned Knitting MachineParts Catalog, published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works,in 1929, 1935, 1940, and 1947, respectively.

3. Booklet entitled, The Reading High Production Full-Fashioned KnittingMachine, which, forming a supplement to the above noted 1940 partscatalog of the Textile Machine Works, is a publication of the TextileMachine Works, copyrighted by the latter in 1940.

4. Pamphlet entitled, Knitting Machine Lectures, published by theWyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, in 1935.

A knitting machine within the invention comprises a needle bar andfashioning means including movable end stops for the yarn carrier rods,said stops being moved to narrow and widen in steps equal to twice thedistance between next adjacent needles because of the structure andrelation of the usual carriers, sinkers and dividers used in suchmachine. Loop transferring points, also a part of the fashioning means,are moved in two needle steps in the narrowing direction but are adaptedto be moved in single needle steps both in the narrowing and wideningdirections as hereinafter set forth. When narrowing or widening insingle needle steps it is desirable, in most instances, to maintain thepoints in a definite relation to the selvages and end stops throughoutthe single needle step operations. For this purpose, means are providedto prevent operation of the end stops in alternate narrowing andWidening operations. The machine within the invention also is providedwith means for operating the end stops to widen during a couliering orknitting operation and the points in a succeeding or narrowing operationof the machine and includes means for preventing the operation of thetransfer points during operation of the end stops and preventingoperation of the and stops during operation of the points. The machineis also provided with means associated with the transfer points forpreventing th points from moving beyond predetermined limits ashereinafter set forth.

The mechanism shown in the drawings is a part of a multi-section typefull-fashioned knitting machine and comprises a usual frameworkincluding end frames, one of which is shown at 22, which are joined tocenter frames (not shown) by a back beam 24 and a front beam 26, Figs.1, 5 and 9. A main camshaft 20, journalled in end frames 22 and thecenter frames, carries cams for actuating the loop forming and othermechanisms of the machine in the usual and well known manner.

Carried on the framework at the left end of the machine in the usualmanner is a narrowing head mechanism 25, there usually being two suchmechanisms, one at either end of the machine. The mechanism 25 includesa threaded spindle 34 for determining the positions of end stops 36',Figs. 1 and 4, for limiting the endwise extent of movement of the yarncarrier rods, not shown, and a spindle 38 for determining the positionof narrowing rods 40, shown in Fig. 3, on which the transfer ornarrowing points are mounted. The end stops 3B, are pivotally mounted ona nut 31 carried on the threaded portion of spindle 44 (Fig. 4). Thespindle 38 is provided with oppositely threaded portions, each of whichcarries a nut 39, only the left hand nut being shown in Fig. 3,associated with and moving the narrowing rods 40 in the usual manner.Two of the rods 40 carry wide transfer point combs and the other rods 40carry narrow point combs (not shown), the rods having a wide and anarrow comb respectively cooperating with the left nut 39 and the otherrods with their associated wide and narrow combs cooperating with theright nut (not shown). Each wide comb acts independently or at timescooperates with one of the narrow combs to fashion the selvage edges ofthe blank in the usual manner.

Racking impulses for turning the spindle 34 and spindle 38 are deliveredto the spindles from the main camshaft 20 through a train of mechanismwhich includes cams 44 and 46 on the camshaft and a cam follower 48,Fig. 1. In the arrangement according to the present invention, cam 44 isused when it is desired to turn both spindles 34 and 38 in the narrowingor widening directions during a narrowing cycle while cam 46 is usedwhen it is desired to turn spindle 34 only in the widening directionduring a knitting or loop forming cycle, counterclockwise as viewed inFig. 1. Means hereinafter set forth, are provided to prevent certain ofthe impulses from cam 44 from affecting spindle 34 and to prevent theimpulses from cam 46 from affecting spindle 38. Except in revolutions ofthe camshaft 20 in which fashioning is to be performed, the follower 48is maintained out of the planes of said cams 44 and 46 and in theposition shown in Figs, 5 and 9. Where a fashioning movement of the endstops is to be performed during a, knitting revolution of the maincamshaft, follower 48 is shifted to the plane of cam 46 to cooperatetherewith while if a movement of the end stops or transfer points orboth is or are to be performed during a non-knitting or narrowingrevolution of the cam shaft, the follower 48 is not shifted but anequivalent effect is produced by shifting or shogging the camshaft tobring the cam 44 into the same plane as the follower 48.

An impulse from cam 44 or cam 46 is transmitted first to cam follower 48which is mounted to revolve on a pin 50 and also to slide lengthwise ofthe pin. Pin 50 is fixed intermediate the ends of a lever 52 which ispivoted at its front end at 54 in transverse end frame 22. Lever 52 isprovided with a stud or axle 56 fixed thereon on which is pivotallymounted an actuator 60, the lower end of the actuator resting on a bolt63 supported on the end frame 22 to limit the lowermost position of thefollower 48 relative to cams 44, 46 and camshaft 20, Fig. l. Theactuator 60 is connected to pawls cooperating with ratchet wheels forturning spindles 34 and 38 as hereinafter set forth.

The spindles 34 and 38 are turned in the narrowing direction by pawls 58and SI, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 11, pawls 58 and 6|being pivotally carried on levers I4 and I6 in turn pivotally mounted onthe spindles 34 and 38, re spectively. The levers I4 and I6 areconnected to the actuator 66 in the usual manner. The spindles 34 and 38are turned in the widening direction by pawls 62 and 64, respectively,which are connected to the actuator 60 as shown in Fig. 2. The pawls 58and 6| cooperate with ratchet wheels 66 and 68 on the spindles 34 and38, respectively (Fig. 11), and the pawls 62 and 64 cooperate withratchet wheels and 12 on the spindles 34 and 38, respectively. Theratchet wheels 66 and I0 are provided with teeth having a spacing equalto a two needle turning movement of the spindle 34 and the ratchetwheels 66 and I2 are provided with teeth having a spacing equal to a oneneedle turning movement of the spindle 38, in the usual manner. All ofsaid pawls act only on upstrokes of each operating movement of actuator50, a fifth pawl 'II being shown for a purpose hereinafter set forth,pawl II acting on ratchet I2 on spindle 38 in the widening direction buton the downstroke only of the actuator.

Narrowing pawls 58 and GI both receive impulses from cam 44 at the sametime during revolutions of the camshaft in which narrowing is performed.At such times, the pattern means throws into action a mechanism (notshown) which shifts shaft from left to right, in the usual manner, asviewed in Fig. 9. The follower '48 being held at such times in the sameplane as in knitting revolutions, cam 44 is shifted along with shaft 20so that it comes into the same plane as follower 43. The follower lever52, actuator 60 and pawls 58 and 6| are then all lifted by the cam and,the mechanism being set for two needle narrowing, spindle 34 is turnedthrough a distance equal to one tooth of the ratchet 66 and spindle 36is simultaneously turned through a distance equal to two teeth of theratchet 68 to move the nuts 3'! and 30, respectively, a distance of twoneedles, that is, one equal to twice the distance between next adjacentknitting needles of the machine. When it is desired to fashion by singleneedle narrowing, a plate cam TI, pivoted on spindle 38 is provided tohold the pawl 8| away from the first tooth but permitting the pawl toengage the second tooth in its path to turn the spindle 36 a one needledistance. The spindle 34, however, is turned a two needle distance atthe time spindle 38 is turned only a one needle distance and it beingdesired to maintain a substantially constant relation between thepositions of the end stops and the transfer points, means is providedwhereby pawl 58 is held out of action every other narrowing revolution.A similar situation occurs when widening. The spindle 38 moving only aone needle distance for each individual widening operation of spindle38, the spindle 34 is prevented from turning in alternate wideningoperations of spindle 38 by holding pawl 62 out of action. In thearrangement shown, the means for holding pawls 58 and 62 out of actionat desired times are combined with still another means, one for holdingpawl 64 out of action. Said entire means will be described in detailhereinbelow.

As all the four pawls so far described act on the upstroke of actuator60, and as all are necessarily normally biased toward their ratchetwheels, it is necessary to keep the widening pawls from engaging theirratchet wheels during revolutions in which narrowing is to be performedand necessary to keep the narrowing pawls from engaging their ratchetswhen widening is to be performed. For these purposes, plate cams l8 andare pivoted one on spindle 34 and one on spindle 38, respectively, asshown in Fig. 2. Cams I8 and 00 are positioned and operated by a meansincluding a link 82 pivotally connected to cam I8, cams I8 and 80 beingpivotally connected in fixed relation to each other by a link 84.Normally, cams I8 and 80 lie in positions shown in Fig. 1 and in whichthe narrowing pawls 58 and BI are free to act on their ratchets whilethe widening pawls 62 and 64 are held inactive, cam I8 contacting a partof widening .pawl 62 and cam 80 contacting a part of pawl 64. When camsI8 and 80 are turned on their spindles to the positions shown in Fig. 2,cam I8 contacts a part of pawl 58 to disable said pawl. However, cam 80does not act on narrowing pawl (H, but pawl 6| is disabled by cam I8through a lost motion connection with pawl 58 comprising a linkagepivoted to downwardly extending portions of the pawls and including amember 19 shown as connected directly to pawl 6| and having a slidingconnection with a member 8 I which is connected directly to pawl 58. Itwill be seen in Fig. 2 that cam 80 is so formed that it permits pawl 64to move its ratchet I2 and spindle 38 only a single needle distance perupward stroke of the pawl.

For turning cams I8 and 80 to disable pawls 58 and 6| and free pawls 62and 64, said link 62 is pivotally connected at its lower end to one arm86 of a bell-crank lever 86 pivotally mounted on end frame 22, Figs. 5and 9, and which has a downwardly extending arm 90. The lower end of arm60 is pivoted to a link 92 which extends alongside the back beam 24 to apivotal connection with a downwardly extending arm 94 of a bell-cranklever 96 pivotally mounted on a bracket 98 fixed to said back beam.Lever 96 has an arm 99 having a pin I00 therein on which is a rollertype follower I02, Figs. 7 and 8, contacting a cam surface on a cammember I04. A spring 95 connected to the arm and the back beam 24,biases the levers 88 and 96 in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 5 and6) to maintain engagement between the follower I02 and cam member I04.Member I04 is provided with ex tensions I05, as shown in Figs. I, '7 and8, fixed to a rod I06 which extends along substantially the entirelength of the machine so as to control both narrowing heads. The memberI04 is guidedv in its movement with rod I66 in a bifurcated portion mlof bracket 98 (Fig. 7) and by the engagement of one of the extensionsI65 and a projecting portion I03 of the bracket, as shown in Figs. 6, '7and 8. A set screw I68 carried on the portion I03 cooperates with thearm 64 of the lever 96 to limit the counterclockwise movement of thelever, as viewed in Fig. 8, when turned by the cam I04. Rod I05 isoperated at desired times in the direction of its length by a patterncontrolled means from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 6, or from leftto right, as viewed in Fig. 8, to thrust the high part of cam I04beneath roller I02 to thereby turn arm 94 of lever 96 in the clockwisedirection (Fig. 6) to move lever 88 in the clockwise direction as viewedin Fig. 5 to thereby operate link 82' and turn cams I8 and 80 from thepositions shown in Fig. 1 to the positi'ons shown in Fig. 2. The rod I06is given different length movements by the pattern controlled means, forpurposes hereinafter set forth, each movement, irrespective of itslength, operating the link to turn the cams 18 and 80.

When the rod I06 is given the shorter of its different length movementsto the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, the link 82 shifts the cams I8 and 80without affecting the position of the cam follower 48'. Thereupon,shifting of the cam shaft 20 to its narrowing position aligns the cam 44with the follower 48 to cause the Widening action. When the rod I06 isgiven the longer of its movements, the cam follower 48 is shifted intoalignment with the cam 46 simultaneously with the shifting of the camsI8 and 80 thereby causing the widening action in a knittingv cycle.

Rod I06 is arranged to shift follower 48 by means of a lever I pivotallycarried at II3 on the back beam 24, one end I09 of the lever extendingbetween spaced collars H0 and III on the rod, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.The rod is normally biased to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, to holdthe collar I II in contact with the end I09 of the lever I01 by a springII4 which surrounds the rod and lies between a collar II6 on the rod anda bracket II8 fixed to back beam 24. Another end II2 of lever I0! isforked to embrace the edge of follower 48, the lever I01 being biased bya spring 91 connected to the lever and the back beam 24 as shown inFigs. 5 and 9, to hold the follower in the position shown in Fig. 5 andin which it can receive an impulse from cam 44 when the shaft 20 isshogged to the right as in afashioning cycle. As is clearly shown inFigs. 5 and 6, collars I I I and I I0 are spaced along rod I 06 so thatthe rod may move the shorter of its different movements or the distancebetween the right edge of the end I 09 of lever I 0'! and the left edgeof collar IIO, as viewed in said figures, without affecting lever I 01and thereby follower 4B. Whenever, however, rod I06 makes the longer ofits different movements from right to'left, as hereinbefore set forth,the collar IIO engages lever I01 to turn it about the pivot point H3 ofthe lever with the consequent shifting of the follower 48 to the right.The cam shaft 20 being held stationary at such times, follower 48 isthereby brought into the plane of cam 46 and actuater 60 is therebyoperated during a knitting cycle or revolution.

In order that rod I06 may be moved different distances from left toright at the desired times a means is provided including a lever II5which is pivoted intermediate its ends at I H on a bracket I2I fixed tothe back beam 24 and is biased to turn clockwise about its pivot asviewed in Fig. 10 by a spring H9. One end of lever H5 is connected tooperate rod I06, as shown in Figs. 6

and 10 by means including a link I pivotally connected through universaljoint members I22 to the lever and to an arm I24 forming part of abell-crank lever I26 pivotally supported on the bracket I2I. The leverI26 has another arm I26 which contacts a collar I30 fixed on rod I06.

8 when lever H5 is permitted to turn in response to spring H9, lever I2!isturned clockwise and rod I06 thrust to the left as will be clear fromFig. 6.

In order that lever II 5' may operate rod I06 as desired, the means forcontrolling and operating the lever is shown as comprising, in additionto the spring II9, a pattern controlled lever I32, as shown in Figs. 5and 10, which is pivoted to an axle I34 carried on a fixed part ofthemachine. Intermediate its ends, lever I32 has an arm I36 having oneend of a link I38 pivotally connected thereto, the other end of saidlink being connected to a pattern lever (not shown) adapted to beoperated by a button on the main pattern chain to turn' lever I32leftward, that is, counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 5. Normally, theforward end of lever I I5 rests on a land I40 at the upper end of leverI 32 and, so long as this is the case, the parts remain in the positionsshown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 10. When lever I32 is tiu'nedcounterclockwise by a button on the pattern chain it is moved out fromunder lever I15 and a follower I4l, rotatably carried on the lever H5,engages the high part of a cam I 42 on the camshaft 20. As the camshaftis rotated thefollower I 4| rides from the high to the low peripheralsurface of the cam I42 which raises the end of lever II5 connected tothe lever I26 and turns the lever I26 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6)to shift the rod I06 in the longer of its movements. As hereinbefore setforth, the longer movement shifts the collar I I0 to the left to engageand turn the lever I01 thereby shifting the follower 48 to the rightinto alignment with the cam 40, as viewed in Fig. 5. As the cam shaftcontinues to rotate, the high portion of cam I42 again engages thefollower I4I to lift the lever I I 5, whereupon, with the button havingbeen removed from engagement with the pattern lever in the usual manner,the lever I32 is returned to position beneath the lever H5 to again holdthe lever H5 in the position shown in Fig. 10.

In order that the rod I06 may be controlled to make the shorter of itsstrokes when a button on the pattern chain moves the lever I32 frombeneath the lever I I5, another button shiftsalever I44, pivotallycarried on the axle I34, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFig. 5, to a position beneath the lever H5. As the follower I4I followsthe periphery of the cam I42 from the high to the low surface, the leverI I5 is arrested by the lever I44 at a point intermediate the high andlow surfaces. With this action the lever I26 is turned through a shorterangle in the clockwise direction whereby the rod I06 is given theshorter or" its movements in which the collar H0 is moved to the left,but not sufficiently to engage and turn lever I01, follower 48 therebyremaining in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 9. When the cam shaft 20is shifted the cam 44 is moved into the plane of the follower 48 wherebythe widening operation occurs in a narrowing cycle. The lever I 44 isoperated from the pattern chain through a rod or link I46 one end ofwhich is connected to a projection I41 on the lever I44 and the otherend to a pattern lever of the pattern chain (not shown). During thewidening operation the buttons are removed from engagement with patternlevers for levers I32 and I44 whereby the levers return to theirposition of Fig. 5 with the lever I32 again beneath the lever II5.

As hereinbefore set forth, each long or short 9 movement of the rod I88operates the rod 82 to turn the cam 18 and 88 from the positions of Fig.1 to the positions of Fig. 2 so that an actuation of the actuator 80operates thepawls 82 and 84 to turn the spindles 34 and 38,respectively. However, when the rod I88 receives the longer of itsmovements and the widening occurs in a knitting cycle, the pawl 84 mustbe held away from its ratchet 12 for the full stroke of the actuator 88.When the rod receives the shorter of its movements and the wideningoccurs in a narrowing cycle, the pawl 82 must be held away from itsratchet wheel 18. The means shown for this purpose comprises bell cranksI48 and I88 pivotally carried on pins I52 and I58 fixed in the end frame22, one arm I54 of bell crank I48 adapted to engage pawl 8 1 and one armI58 of bell crank I58 adapted to engage the pawl 82. A second arm I51 ofthe bell crank I48 carries an adjustable member I88 and is provided witha spring I82 for biasing the member I88 into engagement with one arm I83of a bell crank I84 also pivotally carried on the pin I88, as shown inFigs. 4 and 11. The arm I63 carries a cam follower I88 which is biasedby a spring I89 into engagement with one cam path I81 of a star cam I88,the cam path having alternate high and low spots and acting through thefollower I88 and arms I83 and I51 to turn the arm I54 to engage the pawl84 and prevent it from engaging the ratchet wheel 12 on alternateoperating movement of the actuator 88. The star cam I88 is rotatablymounted on a shaft I18 also fixed in the end frame 22 and is turned stepby step by means of a ratchet wheel I1I secured to the star cam and apawl I12 carried on one arm of a lever I13 pivotally carried on theshaft I18, Figs. 2 and 4.. The lever I18 is connected by a link I18 tothe axle 58 so that upon each operating movement of the lever 52 andactuator 88, the link operates the lever I13 to move the pawl I12 andadvance the ratchet wheel I1I one tooth which moves either a high or lowspot of cam path I81 into engagement with the follower I88. A second armI11 of the bell crank I84 carries a. member I18 adapted to engage andprevent pawl 58 from engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 88 (Figs.11 and 12) every other operation of the actuator 80 for purposeshereinafter set forth.

As hereinbefore set forth, the arm I58 of lever I58 engages the pawl 82to hold it out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 18 when wideningmovements occur in a narrowing cycle of the machine. For this purpose asecond arm I 82 of the bell crank I58 carries a follower I83 which isheld in engagement with a second cam path I88 of the star cam I88 by aspring I81. path I88 has low cam spots aligned with certain of the lowspots of the cam path I81, alternating with high spots which have alength equal to a three tooth movement of the ratchet wheel I1I or twohigh and one low cam spots of cam path I81. Therefore, the cam path I88of the star cam I88 will act through the follower I83 and bell crank I58to permit the pawl 82 to engage the ratchet wheel 18 for one operatingmovement of the actuator 88 and hold the pawl out of engagement with theratchet wheel during three operating movements of the actuator ashereinafter set forth.

At the beginning of a series of widening operations in accordance withthe invention, and with the end stops 38 and transfer or narrowingpoints in predetermined positions relative to each other and the pawlI12 in engagement with its ratchet The cam 101 wheel IN, the rod I06 isgiven the longer of its shifting movements to align the follower 48 withthe cam 88, and turn the plate cams 18 and 88 to the positions of Fig.2. At this time the follower I88 is on a high spot of its associated campath I81 (Fig. 11) to disable the pawl and follower I83 is on a low spotof the cam path I88 (Fig. 1). As the machine is operated to knit acourse of loops, the actuator is operated by the cam 48 and the pawl 82is free to act to turn its spindle and the end stops 38 two needles inthey widening direction. During the operating movement of the actuator88 the cam I88 is turned a distance equal to one tooth of ratchet wheelI'II to move a low spot of cam path I81 beneath the follower I88 and ahigh spot of cam path I88 beneath the follower I|83 as shown in Fig. 2.Also, during this revolution of the camshaft 28. the rod I88 is returnedto the position shown in Fig. 6 but is immediatel; given the shorter ofits different length movements which again turns the plate cams 18 and88 to the position of Fig. 2. In the next revolution of the camshaft,which is a revolution in which the camshaft has been shifted to thenarrowing position, as the actuator 88 is raised, the spindle 38 isgiven a one needle movement in the widening direction by the pawl 84, tomove the narrowing points outwardly a one needle distance, and the bellcrank I58 holds the pawl 82 away from the ratchet wheel 18. During thisoperating movement of the actuator 88 the star cam I88 is turned anotherone tooth distance to move a high spot of cam path I81 beneath followerI88 to disable pawl 84 and the follower I83 remains on a high spot ofthe cam path I88 to maintain the pawl 82 in disabled position. In thenext revolution of the camshaft 28, a plain course of loops is formed inwhich no widening occurs. During formation of this course the rod I88 isgiven another of its longer movements to shift the follower 48 into theplane of the cam 88 and to move the cam plates 18 and 88 to thepositions of Fig. 2. During formation of the course of loops in the nextrevolution of the camshaft 28, with the followers I88 and I83 on highportions of their associated cam paths of the star cam I88, both pawls84 and 82 are held inactive with respect to their associated ratchetwheels 12 and 18, respectively, so that on the upstroke of the actuator88, neither of the spindles 38 and 34 will be turned. During theoperation of the actuator 88, the ratchet wheel I1I is turned anothertooth which moves a low spot of cam path I81 beneath follower I88 andthe follower I83 remains on the high portion of cam path I88. In thenext revolution of the camshaft 20, which is a revolution in which thecamshaft is shifted to the narrowing position, on the upstroke of theactuator 88 the spindle 38 and the associated narrowing points are givenanother one needle movement in the widening direction. With this secondone needle movement the points and end stops are again in theirpredetermined relation. During the latter operation of the actuator 80,the cam IE8 is advanced another step which moves a high spot of cam pathI81 beneath the follower I88, to disable pawl 84, and a low spot of campath I88 beneath the follower I83 whereby the parts are again inposition for the next of the series of widening operations.

For two needle narrowing, which usually follows the widening operationswhen making a stocking blank on the machine shown, star cam I88 isdisabled by moving pawl I12 into an inop- 11 erative position relativeto the ratchet wheel I! I. This is done when the follower I86 is on alow spot of cam path I61 so that member I18 will not interfere with theaction of narrowing pawl 58. The positions of lever I50 and follower I83and of lever I48 will not be important because, for narrowingoperations, cams I8 and 80 will not be turned out of the positions fornarrowing and will hold widening pawls 62 and 64 out of actionregardless of the disabling levers. Also during two needle narrowing,the plate cam 11, pivoted on spindle 38, is held in the position shownin Figs. 13 and 15, by means hereinafter set forth, so that the platecam will not interfere with the pawl GI and therefore the pawl operatesspindle 38 a two needle distance.

In a portion of the stocking where two needle narrowing is employed itis also the custom to incline some of the narrowing lines toward theselvages. For this purpose, each fashioning means or head of the usualfull-fashioned knitting machine is provided with one of the pawls II,hereinbefore set forth, which is adapted to act on the ratchet I2 onspindle 38 to turn the spindle one needle in back-racking or wideningdirection on the downstroke of the actuator 60 and pawl II after certainof the narrowing operations. period occupied in knitting a stockingblank, pawl II is held out of action by a link I 88, the left end ofwhich, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, is pivoted to the lower end of an armI90 which depends from and is fixed to a, shaft I9I. Shaft I III isadapted to be turned clockwise as viewed in Fig. l by a slider piece I92fixed on the outer or rear free end of an arm I93 which embraces shaftI9! and has its inner or forward end connected to the nut 31 on spindle34 in the usual manner. Slider piece I92 is adapted to coact with campieces I90, I91 and I98, shown in Fig. 4, fixed on a member 20I one endof which is carried on the arm I90 and the other end on a member (notshown) also fixed on the shaft I9I. When slider piece I92 contactseither of the cams I96, I91 or I98, the arm I90 holds the pawl 'II awayfrom its ratchet wheel I2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, theslider piece I92 moves lengthwise of shaft I 9| with nut 31 and, attimes disengages the cams I96, I91 and I98 whereby a spring 202,connecting the arm I90 and pawl 62, draws arm I90 counterclockwise topermit, other things being suitably placed, a spring 204 connecting thepawls 64 and II to draw the pawl II into engage ment with the ratchetwheel I2 to back-rack spindle 38 on the downstroke of the pawl in theusual manner. A throw over arm 203 fixed on the rod 84, connecting thecams I8 and 80, is provided to at times prevent engagement of the pawlII with the ratchet wheel I2 irrespective of the relation between sliderpiece I92 and cams I96, I91 and I98. When the pawl II is to operate asin the diamond point toe, the arm 203 is positioned as shown in Fig. 2.However, when the pawl is to be held inactive throughout the knitting ofa stocking blank, the arm 203 is moved to the position shown forillustrative purposes only in Fig. 1. The structure of the device ofwhich arm 203 is a part and the function thereof is more fully set forthin Haehnel, U. S. Patent No. 2,432,413, of 1947, and not forming a partof the present invention is not described further herein.

Cams I96, I91 and I98 also control the action of. the pawl 62 durincertain fashioning or other loop transferring Operations of the machineThroughout a considerable portion of the 12 through a link 206 whichconnects the arm I90 and the pawl 62. When the slider piece I92 is onthe cam I96, the position of the parts at the start of the stockingblank, the arm I90, through the link 206, will hold the pawl 62 awayfrom the ratchet Wheel I0 irregardless of whether the plate cam I8 is inits position of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. When the slider piece is on the camI9'I, which is lower than the cam I96, the position of the parts at the;

the parts in this position the pawl 62 will be heldv away from theratchet wheel I0 although the pawl 64 continues to rack the spindle 38outwardly. The cam I98 contacts the slider piece I92 in the latter partof the diamond point narrowing and being the same height as the cam I96also acts to hold pawl 62 away from the ratchet wheel I0 if the cam I8is accidentally moved to the position of Fig. 2.

During the production of the welt and afterwelt of stocking blanks, itis often desirable to form picot or lace stitches. During the formationof such picot or lace stitches, which occurs when the camshaft 20 isshifted into narrowing position, a button on the pattern chain causesthe rod I06 to shift through the shorter of its movements which shiftsthe cams I8 and to the position shown in Fig. 2 to hold the narrowingpawls 58 and 6| away from their respective ratchet wheels. At this timethe slider piece I92 is in engagement with the cam I96 which holds thepawl 62 away from the ratchet wheel I0 and a finger 201 '(Fig. 1)secured to the nut 39 (securing means not shown), holds the pawl 64 awayfrom the ratchet wheel I2.

As hereinbefore set forth, when forming single needle narrowings in thestocking blank, the plate cam 11 is adapted to hold the pawl 6I awayfrom the first tooth of the ratchet wheel 68 but,

permits the pawl to engage the second tooth in the movement of the pawlto turn the spindle 38 a one needle distance. The plate cam 11 isnormally employed to act as a safety means to provide a predeterminedlimit to the movement of the nuts 39 toward each other. In Figs. 13 and15 the plate cam 11 is shown in its position to permit the pawl 6| toengage the ratchet wheel 68 and turn the spindle 38 a, two needledistance. In this position a surface 2I0 of plate cam 11 is held inengagement with a rod 2II by a spring 2I2. The rod 2 is carried in fixedparts of the machine for sliding movement parallel to the axis of thespindle 38 and is biased to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 by a spring2I5, to the position shown in Fig. 15. The rod 2 is limited in itsleftward movement by a collar 2I6, fixed to the rod, by engagement ofcollar 2I6 with a portion 2 I4 of one of the bearing brackets for thespindle 38, as shown in Fig. 3. The rod 2I I also has fixed thereto acollar 2II adapted to be engaged by the nut 39 when the nut is movedtoward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, beyond its predetermined limit.If the nut 39 is inadvertently moved beyond said predetermined limit,the nut engages the collar 2II to move the rod 2 to the right from itsposition beneath the plate cam 11,

whereby the plate cam is turned in a clockwise direction until a pin 220in the plate cam engages the rod 2 I I, in which position a high camsurface 22I of cam IT has been moved into the path of the pawl BI tothereby prevent further engagement between the pawl and ratchet wheel68. When the nut 39 is returned to its normal path of movement, theplate cam 'I'I may be returned to its position of Fig. 13.

To hold the pawl GI out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 68 duringone tooth of the normal two tooth movement of the pawl, a cam surface222 of the plate cam TI is moved into the path of the pawl (H, as shownin Fig. 11. In order to position the surface 222 in the path of pawl GIthe rod 2 II is moved to the right to its position in Fig. 14 whereuponthe cam II is biased in a clockwise direction to move a stepped surface225 into engagement with the rod 2II, as shown in Figs. 11 and 14. Whenthe single needle narrowings are completed, the plate cam I1 is manuallyturned in a counterclockwise direction to the position of Fig. 13 tomove the surface 222 out of the path of the pawl 6|, whereupon thespring 2I5 moves the rod 2II to the left from its position in Fig. 14 toits position in Fig. 15, the latter position being determined by thecollar 2 I6.

In the operation of the machine, the plate cam TI is positioned as inFig. 11 for forming single needle narrowings throughout the leg portionof the blank. After the final leg narrowing the plate cam is turnedcounterclockwise with the rod 2II moving to the position of Figs. 15 ashereinbefore set forth. With the plate cam in such position, two needlenarrowings will be formed throughout the remaining narrowed portions ofthe blank. On the last two needle narrowing movements of the spindle 38and nuts 39 at the end of the toe of the blank, the left nut 39 engagesthe collar 2 II and moves the rod 2 II to the right sufliciently topermit a clockwise movement of the plate cam TI to its position of Figs.11 and 14 for the start of the next blank. If for some reason the blanksare destroyed or pressed off the needles before completion of theblanks, particularly at a point in the blank prior to the start of thetoe narrowing, the nuts 31 and 39 are reset to starting position for thestart of the next blanks without, however, resetting the rod 2H forforming single needle narrowings as hereinbefore set forth. Under theseconditions, after the nuts 39 are reset to starting position the rod 2|I is manually moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, to release theplate cam TI to its position of Fig. 14, a collar 226 on the rodengaging the nut 39 to limit such manual movement of the rod.

When forming single needle narrowings, the pawl 58 for turning thespindle 34 in the narrowing direction must be held out of engagementwith the ratchet wheel 66 on alternate operations of the actuator 60 tomaintain the spindle 34 in relation with the spindle 38. For thispurpose there is provided the member I'I8 which is alternately operatedto engage the pawl 53 to hold it away from the ratchet wheel 66 or torelease the pawl for cooperation with the ratchet wheel, as hereinbeforeset forth, as determined by the cam path IB'I of the star cam I68.

.- In machines of the type shown, the spindles 34 and 38 are providedwith means for preventing overtravel of the spindles during turningmovement of the spindles as determined by the pawls 58, 62 and BI, 64,respectively. For this purpose, the spindle 34 has a disk 228 havingnotches engageable by a detent member 229 and the spindle 38 has a disk23I thereon having notches engageable by a detent 232. Due to the shapeof the notches in the disk 228 and the end of the detent 229 cooperatingwith said notches it is necessary to raise the detent at each upwardmovement of the actuator 60. For raising detent 229 a cam member 234(Fig. 4) carried on' the lever I4 (Fig. 2) engages a pin 236 whichengages a lever 238 connected to the detent 229. As the actuator 60rises the lever I4 turns on the spindle 34 and cam 234 engages pin 236to turn the lever 238 in a counterclockwise direction to thereby raisethe detent 229 out of engagement with the disk 228. A spring 239 returnsthe detent 229 into engagement with the disk when the cam 234 disengagepin 236.

The spindle 34 is also provided with means for preventing accidentalturning of the spindle in the widening direction due to the impact ofthe carrier rods on the end stops 36.

which engages a pin 243 carried on the pawl. Thelatch 242 is carried onan arm 245 fixed to and adapted to turn with the lever I4. The pawl 240is provided with an arm 246 which is connected to the pawl 58 by a link248, the link having a slotted connection with the arm to permit thenormal functions of both pawls. The link 248 is so constructed to permitpawls 58 and 248 to be simultaneously moved to inactive positions duringresetting of the spindle 34.

The operation of the mechanism hereinabove described will be apparentfrom the foregoing. However, for purposes of convenience, and toemphasize the novel features of the present method invention, theoperation of the apparatus shown will be further described as follows:

When a stocking blank or similar fiat knit article has been knitted to apoint at which it is desired to perform a widening operation, acombination according to the invention of yarn carrier action andtransfer point action is employed. In so doing, the end stop spindle 34is operated during a knitting revolution of the main camshaft 20, thatis to say one in which the yarn carrier is operated to lay yarn, to movethe end stops 36 outwardly a two needle distance, the spindle 38 for thetransfer points being maintained stationary during this revolution. Inthe next revolution, the end stop spindle 34 and the yarn carrier arekept stationary but the point spindle 38 is turned to move the looptransfer. points outwardly a one needle distance. In a subsequentrevolution, the point spindle is given a second one needle outward looptransferring movement so as to maintain the original relation of thepoints to the selvages. Moreover, in the particular apparatus shown forcarrying out the present novel Widening method disabling levers I48 andI50 are employed which are controlled and operated by cam paths I61 andI86 of star cam I88, which in turn is operated from the actuator 60, formoving the widening pawls 62 and 84 for racking the spindles, and whichcause the appropriate widening pawl to be thrown out of action when theother pawl is to operate. The cam I68 is given an idle movement betweensaid first and second movements of the Said means comprises a pawl 240carried on the shaft I9I' point spindle in a revolution of the maincamshaftin which neither spindle is turned to positionthe campathsproperly for the second efiec tive movement of the pointmovingspindle. Said idle movement of the cam I68 involves an operationof the actuator but no movement of the spindles occurs as a result ofthis operation because the star cams are then both inposition to causetheir disabling levers to prevent strokes of their pawls from affectingthe spindles. Said idling movement of the actuator can conveniently becompleted during a knitting revolution in which the course to containthe second group of transferred loops is made. However, the invention isnot limited to this in all cases. Such a widening repeat involves fouroperations of the actuator, the first during a knitting revolutionof thecamshaft of the machine to cause two needle widening movement of the endstops, the second during a narrowing cycle in the revolution of thecamshaft following the widening movement of the end stops, to cause aone needle widening movement of the points, the third during a followingknitting revolution to idly advance the star cam and the fourth during anarrowing cycle to cause the second one needle widening movement of thepoints. This repeat may be carried out as often as required to producethe desired widening of the fabric.

Following the widening of a stocking blankor other fabric being knittedit is assumed that it will be desired to carry out two needle narrowing.This is done in the machine shown by the usual narrowing means, themeans for producing widening or single needle narrowing being held inpositions in which the usual movements of the narrowing pawls are notinterfered with.

Following the end of the two needle narrowings, the stocking blanks aretaken off the needles of the individual sections and the fashioningspindles manually reset so that another set of blanks may be begun, eachof full width at the start. In blanks in which single needle narrowingsare formed in the leg portion the rod- 2| l controlling the cam 11 isautomatically reset on the last two needle narrowing of the previous setof blanks. Where two needle narrowings are formed throughout thestocking, the collar 2!! is adjusted on the rod 2| I so that the rod isonly acted on torelease the cam 11 when the nuts 39 are inadvertentlymoved toward each other beyond their predetermined limits. Upon itsrelease by said rod, the cam 11 moves automatically to a position inwhich it blocks pawl 81 and through member 19, the pawl 58 to preventfurther movement of the spindles in the narrowing direction. Thecam I1and rod 2| I may again be positioned as in Figs. 13 and 15 when the nuts39 have been reset to starting position. The sub sequent change fromnarrowing to widening in the heel according to the present invention iscontrolled automatically by the pattern meansthrough the medium of theplate cams 18 and 80" on the fashioning spindles and the disablinglevers- I48 and I50. In case single needle narrowing is used in the legportion of the blank and it" is desired to use two needle narrowing inthe un der part of the heel and remainder of the foot, the cam 11 forcontrolling the effective length of the stroke of the narrowing pawl 61for the pointspindle 38 is manually reset from the position of Fig. 11to the position of Fig. 13 at any convenient time after the completion.of the leg narrowings. However, the arrangement-is such that either twoneedle narrowing or single needle nar' rowing may be used throughout ablank or set of blanks as desired. Single needle widening is always usedbecause it has been found that two needle widening movements of thetransfer points places an undesirable tension on the loops and thecontrol cam for the point spindle is therefore shown as shaped to limitthe effective length of the stroke of the widening pawl 64 to a oneneedle distance.

The operation of the remaining parts of the machine shown affects theinvention only indirectly, if at all, and will not be described in de--tail.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown.

and described by which I obtain the above results, can be changed andmodified in various ways without departing from the invention here indisclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a straight knitting machine operating in knitting and fashioningcycles, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stopstherefor, loop transferring points and a fashioning mechanism includingsaid rods, stops and points, said mechanism adapted when thrown intoaction to move said stops in the widening direction during a knittingcycle while preventing movement of the points and to operate the pointsto transfer loops outwardly in a succeeding cycle of the machine whilepreventing movement of said end stops.

2. In a straight knitting machine operating in knitting and fashioningcycles, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stopstherefor, loop transferring points and a fashioning mechanism includingsaid rods, stops and poin said mechanism adapted when thrown into actionto move said stops in the widening direction during. a knitting cyclewhile preventing movement of the points, and to operate the points totransfer loops outwardly in a fashioning cycle while preventing movementof said end stops.

3. In a straight knitting machine having a revolving camshaft,fashioning mechanism comprising spindles for moving end stops for yarncarrier rods and for moving points for transferring loops, respectively,narrowing pawls and widening pawls for said spindles, pattern means,means activated by" said pattern means for moving said pawlssimultaneously to rack said spindles, means to hold one set of pawlsinactive while the other set acts to turn said spindles and. means forholding the widening pawl for the point spindle inactive whilepermitting action of the pawl for moving the end stops outwardly in aknitting revolution of the camshaft and adapted to hold.

the widening pawl for the end stops inactive and permit operation of thepawl for moving the points outwardly during a fashioning revolution ofthe camshaft.

4. Ina straight knitting machine having r'evolving parts, thecombination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stops therefor, looptransferring pointsand a fashioning mechanism in cluding said rods,stops and points, said mechanism adapted when thrown into action tomovesaid'stops' in thewide'ning direction du-iinga laying stroke of acarrier rod while preventing movement of the points and to operate thepoints to transfer loops outwardly while preventing movement of thestops-and in successive revolutions of the machine.

5. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of fashioningmechanism comprising.

spindles for moving end stops for yarn carrier rods and for movingpoints for transferring loops, respectively, narrowing pawls andwidening pawls for said spindles, a pattern means, control means whosemovements are determined by said pattern means for moving the narrowingpawls to inactive position when a widening operation is to take placeand for moving the widening pawls to inactive position when a narrowingoperation is to be performed, a lever adapted to prevent operation ofthe end stop spindle by its widening pawl by disabling the pawl at atime it is freed by said control means, star cam means moving said leverinto disabling position at every second, third and fourth operatingstroke of the pawl, a second lever adapted to prevent operation of thepoint comb spindle by its widening pawl by disabling the pawl at a timeit is freed by said control means, and star cam means moving said secondlever into disabling position at every other one of the operatingstrokes of the pawl.

63. The method of operating a knitting machine having fabric fashioningmeans including a revolving camshaft, end stops for yarn carrier rods, apair of spindles, one for moving said stops and the other for movingloop transferring points and means adapted when thrown into action toturn said spindles in either direction, comprising turning one of saidspindles to move said stops in the widening direction during a knittingrevolution of the camshaft while the other spindle is idle and turningthe other of said spindles to transfer loops outwardly while said onespindle is idle in a non-knitting revolution of said camshaft.

7. The method of operating a knitting machine having a revolvingcamshaft, a spindle for moving loop transferring points, end stops, aspindle for moving said stops, said spindles operated from said camshaftand means adapted when thrown into action to turn said spindles ineither direction, comprising moving said stops in the widening directionduring a knitting revolution of said camshaft while said spindle for thetransfer points is idle and moving said spindle for the points totransfer loops outwardly while said one spindle is idle in anon-knitting revolution of said camshaft, said movements falling insuccessive revolutions of the camshaft.

8. The method of operating a knitting machine having a revolvingcamshaft, a spindle for loop transferring points, end stops for a yarnlaying carrier operated from said shaft and means adapted when throwninto action to turn said spindle in either direction, comprising movingsaid stops in the widening direction during a knitting action of saidcamshaft while the spindle for the point combs is idle and moving saidspindle to transfer loops outwardly at a time said stops are idle, saidmovements falling in immediately successive revolutions of the camshaft.

9. The method of operating a knitting machine, in knitting andfashioning cycles, having fabric fashioning means including a yarncarrier, end stops, loop transferring points, a pair of spindles, onefor moving said stops and the other for moving said points and meansadapted when thrown into action to turn said spindles in eitherdirection, comprising turning one of said spindles to move said stopsfor the yarn carrier in the widening direction during a knitting cyclewhile the transfer points are idle, turning the other of said spindlesto move said points to transfer loops outwardly during a. fashioningcycle while said 18 stops are idle, and turning said spindlesimultaneously to move said stops and said points in the direction tonarrow the fabric during a fashioning cycle.

10. In a straight knitting machine having a revolving camshaft,fashioning mechanism comprising spindles for moving end stops for yarncarrier rods and for moving points for transferring loops, respectively,narrowing pawls and widening pawls for said spindles, pattern means,means thrown into action by said pattern means for moving said pawlssimultaneously in the direction to rack said spindles, a control meansnormally positioned to prevent one group of said pawls from acting ontheir spindles and controlled by said pattern means to permit said onegroup of pawls to turn the spindles and to prevent the other group fromso doing, and means actuated by said pawl moving means during a knittingrevolution of the camshaft permitting the widening pawl for the stopspindle to turn it while preventing the widening pawl for the pointspindle from turning it, said last means also preventing the wideningpawl for the stop spindle from turning it during the next threerevolutions in which the pawls are moved in racking direction whilepermitting the widening pawl for the point spindle to move it during thefirst and third of said next three revolutions.

11. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of an end stopspindle, a point moving spindle, pawls for said spindles, a leveradapted to hold out of action the widening pawl for the point spindle, alever adapted to hold out of action the narrowing pawl for the end stopspindle, a star cam having a step-by-step movement, a follower for thecam journalled on one of said levers, said levers arranged to be movedsimultaneously by movements of said follower to hold their pawls out ofaction and to permit them to operate, and cams acting to hold out ofaction either said widening pawl or said narrowing pawl when they bothhave been freed by their levers.

12. In a straight knitting machine having a revolving camshaft, thecombination of an end stop spindle, a point moving spindle, pawl andratchet means for turning said Spindles in the narrowing or wideningdirections as desired, a lever adapted to hold the widening pawl for thepoint spindle away from its ratchet, a lever adapted to hold thenarrowing pawl for the stop spindle away from its ratchet, a leveradapted to hold the widening pawl for the stop spindle away from itsratchet, star cam and follower means acting on said first two levers tohold said first widening pawl and said narrowing pawl out of actionsimultaneously, and star cam and follower means acting on said lastlever to hold the widening pawl for the stop spindle out of action inthe revolutions in which the other widening pawl turns the pointspindle.

13. In a straight knitting machine having a revolving camshaft, thecombination of pattern means, an end stop spindle, a point spindle, andracking means for said spindles including two cams on said camshaft, afollower adapted to coact with one or the other of said cams in eitherknitting or non-knitting revolutions of the camshaft, a patterncontrolled means to shift said camshaft in non-knitting revolutions ofthe shaft, and means to shift said follower in knitting revolutions onlycomprising a lever biased to turn in one direction and normallyrestrained by a pattern controlled lever and a second patsesame terncontrolled lever acting to intercept said first lever to prevent it frommaking a full stroke in non-knitting revolutions.

14. The method of operating a knitting machine during knitting andnon-knitting cycles, said machine having fabric fashioning meansincluding an end stop spindle and a point spindle and means adapted whenthrown into action to turn said spindles in either direction, comprisingturning said stop spindle to move the stops in the widening directionduring a knitting cycle while the point spindle is idle, turning saidpoint spindle to transfer loops outwardly in a nonknitting cycle whilethe stop spindle is idle, and turningboth said spindles in the narrowingdirection in a non-knitting cycle.

15. The method of operating a knitting machine during knitting and nonknitting cycles, said machine having fabric fashioning means includingan end stop spindle and a point spindle and means adapted when throwninto action to turn said spindles ineither direction, comprising turningsaid stop spindle to move the stops in the widening directionduring aknitting cycle while the point spindle is idle, turning said pointspindle to transfer loops outwardly in a nonknitting cycle while thestop spindle is idle, and turning the point spindle again but in theliarrowing direction 'a non-knitting cycle when the stop spindle isidle.

16. In a straight knitting machine, the combination era revolvingcamshaft having a posit ion for knitting" and a position for fashioning,a yarn carrier rod and movable end stops therefor, loop transferringpoints, spindlesfor moving said stops and points, respectively,narrowing pawls and widening pawls for said spindles, pat tern means,means thrown into action bysaid pattern means for i'ackingsaid spindlesby said pawls, control camsnormally positioned to pre ventone group ofsaid pawl's from acting on their spindles, and means controlled by saidpattern means to position said control cams to permit said one groupor'pawls to turn the spindles and to prevent the other group from sodoing, said racking means having two cams onsa-id camshaft and afollower adapted to 'eoac't with either one ofsaid cams, saidpositioning means having; a lever actingto shiftsaid follower and arodfor moving said lever and making strokesor difl'erent lengths of;"which only the longer is effective toshift the follower but all ofwhich move said control cams the same amount, and a pattern controlledmember acting torestrict the length of stroke of said rod.

17-. In a straight knitting machine, the com bination of a revolvingcamshaft having-- rackingcams thereon, a cam follower for transmittingracking impulses from said cams, narrow ing pawls and widening pawlsreceiving said impulses, oscillatable cams adapted to be posttionedtodetermine whether' the narrowing or widening pawlsshall beeffective atthe time of a given impulse from said follower, and a means forpositioningboth said oscillatable eams and said; follower in'cIu'dingarod biased to move in a given direction along its axis and makingstrokesv of different lengths, andconnections from said rod to saidfollower and to said oscil latable cams comprising respectively a leverhaving a lost motion connection to the rod whereby the. lever andfollower are moved only by the longer strokes Of the rod and abell-cranklever having a follower, said follower engaging a cam 20 a on said rodto move the oscliiatable cams the same distance for each stroke of saidrod.

18. The method of operating a straight knitting machine comprising arevolving cram'shaft having a position for knitting and a position forfashioning, t'wo cams on said camshaft, a single follower for said cams,a pattern means, loop transferring points, a yarn carrier rod, stops forsaid rod, spindles for moving said stops and points, respectively,narrowing pawls and widening pawls for racking said spindles actuated bysaid shaft and control members for determining whether the narrowingpawls or the widening pawls will be efiective in any given rackingmovement of the pawls comprising initiating a racking movement of saidpawls by said pattern means in a knitting position of said camshaft,positioning said control members by said pattern means to cause thenarrowing pawls to be ineffective, preventing racking of the pointspindle during said knitting position of the camshaft, and initiating asecond racking movement of said pawls by the pattern means in afashioning position of said camshaft, positioning said control membersby the pattern means to cause the narrowing pawls to be ineffective insaid fashioning. position of the camshaft, and preventing racking of thestop spindle during said fashioning position of the camshaft.

19. In a straight knitting machine having a main camshaft occupying aposition knitting and-a further position in which fashioning isperformed,v the combination of a pattern means, an operating rodnormally stationary, means activated by said pattern means adapted tomove said rod av givendistance along, its axis, a cam follower having alost motion connection with said rod whereby the follower is thrown intoan active position by said rod during a knitting revolution of saidshaft, control members for fashioning operations, an operatingconnection between said rod and said control members ineludingabell-crank lever having a cam follower journalled on one arm, and a camfixed to the rod with which the follower on said lever engages toactuate the lever an initial movement of the rod and cam, said camhaving a portion along which. the. follower travels upon furthermovement, of the rod 'withnut further effect on said bellrcrank. lever.

20. In astrai'ght knitting machine having a main. camshaft occupying oneposition in knitting IGVOIlltiQlls and another positionln revolutions inwhich fashioning is performed, the combination offa pattern means, anoperating rod normally stationary, meansthrown into action byfsjaidpattern meansgadapt'ed to move said rod a given distance along its axis,a cam follower having a lost motion connection with said rod whereby thefollower thrown into an active position by said rod -during a knittingrevolution 'ofsaid shaft, control membersfor fashioning operations, anoperating connection between said rod and said control members includinga bell-crank lever having a cam: follower journall'ed' on'one-arm, acamfixed to: the; rod which the follower on said lever engages'toactuate the-lever upon an initial movement of: the rod and cam, said camhaving a face: along which the follower travels upon further move;-mentof the rodwithout further effect: on said bell-crank lever, amemberadapted to check the movemen-t'o'f therod short of its full stroke, andagconnection from said checking member to'the pattern means for movingthe checking 21 member into position to halt the movement of the rod.

21. In a fiat knitting machine, the combination of a spindle having anut thereon for moving transfer points, said nut having predeterminedlimits of movement in both directions on said spindle, a pawl andratchet means adapted to turn said spindle in one of said directions ineither two needle or one needle steps, a cam normally positioned topermit two needle turning movement of said spindle but adapted tocontrol the pawl to limit it to a single needle movement of the ratchet,said cam also adapted when in a third position to prevent any action ofthe pawl on the ratchet, a rod for supporting said cam when in saidfirst and second positions, and a stop member on said rod adapted to bemoved to engage said nut when at its limit of movement in one of saiddirections to determine the position of said rod when said cam is insaid second position.

22. In a fiat knitting machine, the combination of a spindle having anut thereon for moving transfer points, a pawl and ratchet means adaptedto turn said spindle in a certain direction in either two needle orsingle needle steps, a cam normally positioned to permit said two needleturning movement of said spindle but adapted to be positioned to controlthe pawl to limit it to a single needle movement of the ratchet, saidcam also adapted when in a third position to prevent any action of thepawl on the ratchet, a rod for supporting said cam when in said firstand second positions and a stop on said rod adapted to engage a fixedpart of the machine to determine the position of said rod when said camis in said first position.

23. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a spindle havinga nut thereon for moving transfer points, said nut having predeterminedlimits of movement in opposite directions on said spindle, a pawl andratchet means adapted to turn said spindle in one of said directions ineither two needle or one needles steps, a cam normally positioned topermit two needle turning movement of said spindle but adapted to bepositioned to control the pawl to limit it to a single needle movementof the ratchet, said cam also adapted when in a third position toprevent any action of the pawl on the ratchet, a rod for supporting saidcam when in said first and second positions and a member on said rodadapted to be engaged by said nut to move the rod from supportingrelation with said cam to permit it to move to said third position whenthe nut is moved in one direction beyond said predetermined limit.

24. In a fiat knitting machine, the combination of a cam, an actuatinglever having a follower thereon and biased toward said cam, a pattern:means, a second lever holding said first lever to prevent it fromfollowing said cam and controlled .by said pattern means to release saidfirst lever to permit it to follow said cam, said cam, follower .andpattern means co-operating to restore said .first and second levers totheir holding relation, .and a third lever also controlled by saidpattern vmeans and acting when desired to shorten the movement of saidfirst lever in its biased direction.

the other for moving said points, pawls adapted to turn said spindles inthe widening direction, pawls adapted to turn said spindles in thenarrowing direction, operating connections between said pawls and saidactuator for causing the pawls to turn the spindles when in positionsfor transmitting actuating impulses, a lever adapted to hold out ofaction the widening pawl for the point spindle, a lever adapted to holdout of action the narrowing pawl for the stop spindle, a cam andfollower means adapted to move said levers to hold their said pawls outof action at the same time and to permit them to operate, the narrowingpawl for the point spindle acting to turn its spindle in the period saidlevers act to move their pawls out of action, and a cam acting in saidperiod to limit the effective stroke of the narrowing pawl for the pointspindle to half its maximum.

26. In a straight knitting machine operating in knitting and fashioningcycles, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stopstherefor, loop transferring points and a fashioning mechanism including,means to move said end stops in the widening direction during theknitting cycle, means for holding said points inactive during saidwidening movement of said stops, means to operate said points totransfer loops outwardly in a succeeding cycle of the machine, and meansfor holding said end stops inactive during movement of said points.

27. In a straight knitting machine operating in knitting and fashioningcycles, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stopstherefor, loop transferring points and a fashioning mechanism including,means to move said end stops in the widening direction during a knittingcycle, means for holding said points inactive during said wideningmovement of said stops, means to operate said points to transfer loopsoutwardly in a succeeding cycle of the machine, means for holding saidend stops inactive during movement of said points, and means forcontrolling said moving and holding means for said end stops and saidpoints.

28. The method of operating a knitting machine during knitting andnon-knitting cycles, said machine having fabric fashioning meansincluding an end stop spindle and a point spindle, pawls for saidspindles, control means for said pawls and an actuator for said pawls,comprising controlling said pawls and operating the actuator to turn thestop spindle in the widening direction during a knitting cycle while thepoint spindle is idle, controlling said pawls and operating the actuatorto turn the point spindle in the widening direction in a non-knittingcycle while the stop spindle is idle, controlling said pawls andoperating said actuator in a knitting cycle while both spindles are idleand controlling said pawls and operating the actuator to turn the pointspindle in the widening direction in a non-knitting cycle while the stopspindle is idle.

29. The method of operating a knitting machine during knitting andnon-knitting cycles, said machine having fabric fashioning meansincluding an end stop spindle and a point spindle, pawls for saidspindles, control means for said pawls and an actuator for said pawls,comprising controlling said pawls and operating the actuator to turn thestop spindle a two needle distance in the widening direction during aknitting cycle While the point spindle is idle, controlling said pawlsand operating the actuator to turn the point spindle a one needledistance in the widening direction in a non-knitting cycle while thestop spindie is idle, controlling said pawis and operating zsaidzaictnator in Q8! knitting 55,016 :while both spindles are idle andicontrolling said nawls and operating the actuator to the point spindle.a .second one needle distance in the widening direction in anon-knitting nycle while :the stop spindle is :idle.

30. In a straight knitting machine having a rotatable camshaftperforming .both knitting and non-knitting revolutions, and :having warnnarrier rods, movable end stops for :said :rods, and rods supportingloop transter points, the com .bination comprising .a, fashioningmechanism :invclnding rotatable spindles for moving :said and .stops andtransfer point .nods respectively, nawls for rotating said spindles, apattern means, mechanism for operating said pawls, (and .a con trolmeans coacting with said pattern means do ,cause :said :pawl operatingmechanism and nawls -to :move said end stops in a --.widening directionduring ,a knitting revolution of the :camsha'it while ;holding saidtransfer point rods against :movement, .and to move said "transfer pointimds in a widening direction in two succeeding Rout non-knittingmevolutions of the icamshait holdingsaid end stopslagainst movement.

31. in ,a straight ilsnitting machine having at rotatable -camshaftxperforming abdth knitting :and non-knitting revolutions randihavinyarnzcarrier rods, movable end stops for ;-said:rods, and iI'DdSsupporting loop transfer :po'ints. zthe rcombina'tion comprising afashioning :mechanism including rotatablesspindles ifor moningsaidiendstops :and transfer point rods :respectively, apawls .for rotate zingsaid ispindles, in pattern means,1meohanism for operating :said pawls,:and a control means coacting .With the pattern :means :to ;cause said:pawl operating mechanism and pawls to move said end stops in a wideningdirection "during -a knitting revolution of said camshaft and --dur- 2,4in whi h 13am is laid for lsnittins wh l hQldlne said transfer pointrods against movement, and

- to :mova a d ransfer po nt rods o :tr n ic loops utwardly :in twsncceed ns but n e n ttin remlnt-ions of said camsh ft while hszldin Sad end stops a ainst m vement. and 9 21 ove both said end stops and saidrod in a narr win d rection in a non-knittin revolut on o th camshag-ft.

.32. a straight imittin machine the c m- ;hination of a c mshaft, a c mthereon h vin a hi h point, a l ver, a .zfollozwer carried by saileverifor :SIQDtflQ bylsaid cam, means for bias n said dever in adirection to cause said follower town-tact said-cam andtfollow thecontour th re of, a sustaining member for holding .said lever a ainstmovement by said biasing means, a pat- :tern means, means controlled bysaid pattern means to more said sustaining member ,to its lever gholdingnosition when said follower is in contact with the high point {of saidcam, and a checking member under the ,control of said:pattennzmeansandzmovable into thepositiontocheck the movement of thelever and follower toward the mam.

HERBERT ERICH References (-Jited in the file of this patent U TED STATESPA S Number Name Date 12,00532461 Gastrich .;Tune-18, 1935 2109140Richter etzal Feb. 22, 1938 $2,198,559 I-181d Apr. 23', 19.40 2,432,413=Haehnel Dec. 9, 1947 =2,438,5'68 Mack Dec. :30, 1947 2,449,477 Held eta1 Sept. 14, 1948 2,489;14 1 Kaul -et a1. Nov. 22, 1949 '2;5(l'7;533Straussberger May 16,1950 2,507,534 'Straussberger May 16, 1950

